Detachably stacked chock stowage apparatus



1965 R. F. HERETH ETAL 3,166,195

DETACHABLY STACKED CHUCK STOWAGE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 e v a INVENTORS RALPH E HE/PETH m HCHABD L L/A KLETIEQ LI BY Jan. 19, 1965 R. F. HERETH ETAL 3,166,196

DETACHABLY STACKED cl-locx STOWAGE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

P o o a v r 49 I 48 E 45 INVENTORS Jan. 19, 1965 R. F. HERETH ETAL 3,166,196

DETACHABLY STACKED CHOCK STOWAGE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS PflzPH HEEETH fa /120 .4. Z/NKLETTEP Y CL A. Mu.- rrae/vsxs United States Patent 3,166,196 DETACHABLY STACKED CHOCK STOWAGE APPARATUS Ralph F. Hereth, Port ()rchard, and Richard L. Linkletter, Bremerton, Wash, assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Jan. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 340,110 11 Claims. (Cl. 211-60) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1252), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The invention relates to stowage apparatus and, in particular, to apparatus for storing missiles and missile boosters aboard ship.

Missile storage involves a number of critical considerations. Space and weight considerations always are a limiting factor particularly as applied to shipboard equipment. Also strength and shock resistance is of primary concern because of the pitching and rolling motions of the ship, as well as other impacts which must be anticipated. Obviously, problems of this type become quite critical when concerned with such hazardous devices as missiles.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for storing elongate objects, such as missiles or boosters, the apparatus being strong, light, flexible and, in particular, being sized to receive and support only the particular number of objects being stored at any particular time. As to this limitation in size, a principal feature of the invention resides in providing a building block type of storage apparatus in which the great majority of the blocks are identical and one can be stacked on or removed from another so as to increase or decrease the storage capacity in accordance with the demands.

Another object consistent with the principal feature just described is that of providing easily assembled building blocks which, when assembled, provide a secure and strong structure.

A further object is to provide particular building blocks capable of being coupled one to the other in such a manner that the entire structure has a degree of flexibility and yet is adequately shock resistant for missile-carrying purposes.

According to the objects of the invention, the present apparatus employs a plurality of chocks, the chocks being of two types only and these types being known as the tired base support chocks and the detachable stacking chocks. In the preferred form, a plurality of vertical stanchions also may be employed. In assembling the apparatus, a detachable chock is pivotally supported on the base chock and other detachable chocks then may be pivotally supported one on top of the other to form a stack. Also, when assembled the structure includes a plurality of stacks arranged side by side in parallel rows. The missiles or other objects to be supported are longitudinally supported between these rows. Each of the detachable chocks is generally L-shaped and its interconnecting parts are so arranged that it can be moved horizontally to simultaneously engage both legs of its L' structure with a laterally-adjacent block. Also, one leg of the L is disposed vertically to form the stacks or columns, while the other leg is disposed horizontally for securement with a chock of an adjacent stack. Consequently one stack supports another, the horizontal legs of the L being employed to support the missiles or other objects.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic end view of an erected storage apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of two stacks of chocks, certain portions of this view being sectioned to illustrate underlying detail; and

FIG. 3 is a side view taken along line III-J11 of FIG. 2, and the view further illustrating a modified form of a sub-assembly used with the invention for physically engaging the missiles or objects being supported.

FIG. 1 as indicated, is included primarily to show the general arrangement of the storage mechanism. When assembled, the apparatus provides what can be termed a plurality of cells 1 in each of which may be mounted a missile 2, the portion of the missile appearing in this figure being the forward portion which does not bear the customary wings and fins. Consequently, the missile can be held by a split ring arrangement 3 that bears directly on it, this split ring arrangement being mounted on adjustable rod mechanisms 4 which may be pivotally mounted in a manner which'will be apparent. However, mechanisms 3, or such others saddles or adapters as may be used do not form a part of the present invention and, of course, these mechanisms will vary with the particular object being supported as well as with the particular area of the object. For example, if a missile booster is being supported, the support structure may have to contend with the wings or fins and the saddle would have to be adapted to fit these members.

The more pertinent structure of the invention lies in the so-called building block units which, when assembled one to the other, provide missile-carrying cells 1. Referring again to FIG. 1 it may be seen that these units include a plurality of chocks of two different types, one type being known as the base support chocks 6 and the other as detachable chocks 7. Also, the building blocks may include a plurality of vertical stanchions 8 which, in a manner to be described, provide the horizontal support for the structure. Stanchions 8 and base support chocks 6 both may be secured to a base support surface 9 which, in a shipboard arrangement would be a sub-deck of the ship. As a matter of further definition for subsequent descriptive purposes, each detachable chock 7 is formed with what is termed a base portion 11 and a lateral arm portion 12, the base of the chock having an upper end 13 and a lower end 14 both specially formed in the manner to be described.

FIG. 1 being an end elevational view of the apparatus, illustrates an assembled structure of which there are three laterally spaced rows of chock members, the rows being identified by numerals 16, 17 and 18 and each of the rows, in effect, being formed of a stack of chocks. The chocks of row 16 have their lateral arm portions 12 supported by vertical stanchion 8, while adjacent row 17 is supported by row 16 and row 18 by row 17. As will be understood, the entire apparatus will include a plurality of longitudinally-spaced vertical stanchions 8 and, of course, each row 16, 17 and 13 also will have a plurality of longitudinally-spaced stacks. Cross-bracing structure,

not shown in FIG. 1, customarily would be used to provide longitudinal rigidity for the stacks of each row.

FIGS. 2 and 3 more clearly illustrate other important features of the invention. However, before considering these features, it should be noted that the mechanisms for supporting the missiles in cells 1 are different from those shown in FIG. 1. The difference stems from the fact that the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 must accommodate other portions of the missile and therefore cannot be of a split-ring type which positively engages a missile throughout most of its circumference. The supporting mechanism shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is identified by the numeral 15. As shown, lateral arms 12 of detachable chock 7 provide the supporting surface for D adapter mechanisms 15 or, for that matter, provide a supporting surface for any adapter that may be used in the apparatus, providing, of course, such adapters are required. Other details of mechanisms 15 should not require further elaboration.

Referring again to FIG. 3, detachable chocks 7 subdivide into upper chocks 7a and lower ones 71). The difference, however, lies only in the manner by which they are supported. Thus, lower chocks 7b are supported by base support members 6, While upper chocks 70 have their lower ends supported by lower chock 7b.

One feature of the invention is the manner in which upper and lower ends 13 and 14 of chocks 7 are formed. Lower ends 14 of each of these chocks is provided with a pin-receiving opening 21 extending transversely of the chock and, preferably, these openings are lined with a bronze bearing sleeve 22 to facilitate the insertion and removal of a pivot or hingepin 23a.

Upper ends 13 each are formed with a pair of spaced hinge flanges 23a and 24 and it is pertinent to note that the space between these flanges has an access which is in line with the lateral arm portions 12 of the chocks or, in other words, an access which extends in a lateral direction. Flanges 23 and 24 each are provided with aligned openings 26 and 27, these openings also being lined with bronze sleeves 28 and 29 to facilitate the introduction and removal of pin 230.

Base support chocks 6 have their upper ends formed in an identical manner as that described, with regard to upper end 13 of detachable chock 7. In other words, the upper ends of base support chock 6 also have spaced flanges 23 and 24 provided with aligned openings to receive a pin 23a. It may be noted at this pointthat pins 23a are large pins which, inserted, have a handle portion 31 projecting outwardly of the chock, while the other end of the pin is provided with an opening to receive a removable key or dowel 32 by means of which the pin may be secured into its inserted position in an obvious manner.

The structureof lateral arms 12 of detachable chock 7 is most clearly shown in FIG. 3 in which they may be seen to have an end portion formed with a socket 36 adapted to receive a chock coupling pin 37. Also, base portion 11 of each detachable chock 7 is provided with a pin-receiving socket 38 and it may be noted that the sockets are provided in the opposite. face from that on which lateral arms 12 are formed. Each socket 38 is lined with a bearing surface 39 to facilitate insertion and removal of, pin 37 and also topermit a freer movement of the pins in the sockets.

Stanchions 8 (FIG. 1) also are provided with sockets 40 identical to sockets 38 of the chocks and these stan- V chion sockets serve an identical function.

Other features of the apparatus best can be appreciated by considering the manner which the various chocks and other building blocks are assembled to form a complete storage apparatus. The first step is to secure vertical stanchions and base chock 6 to support surface 9 by means of bolts or other functionally similar devices. Pins 37 also are inserted into sockets 36 of arm portions 12 of the chocks and the pins may be secured in position by dowel pins 41 or the like. These dowel pins may be manually removable if so desired. With pins 37 secured in their sockets and projecting outwardly of lateral arms 12, a lower chock 7b then is ready to be supported by base block 6 and vertical stanchion 3. To accomplish this purpose, it is significant to note that base chock 7b simply need be moved laterally to engage its pin 37 in provided by base chock 6 as well as the horizontal provided by vertical stanchion 8. An upper detachable chock 7a then can be stacked on lower chock 7b and here again the operation is one of simply moving chock 7a laterally to simultaneously engage its pin 36 and its lower end 14.

As another laterally spaced row of chocks is desired, another lower chock 7b maybe secured to the already assembled chock '71) by the lateral movement which engages its pin 3'7 with socket 39 provided in the outwardly facing surface of base 11 of that chock. This lateral movement, of course, moves lower end 14- of this chock into an aligned position to permit securement by means of another pin 2301. Finally, a fourth cell may be added by laterally moving an upperchock 7a into a position in which its lateral arm is supported by its inwardly adjacent chock 7a, while its lower end 14 is secured be- I tween flanges 23 and 24 at upper end 13 of lower chock 7b.

socket of the stanchion and this same lateral movement simultaneously moves lower end 14 of chock 7b into position between flanges 23 and 24 so as to align all of the hinge pin-receiving openings and permit the insertion of a pin 23a. When inserted, the pin is secured by key member 32. It will be noted that this lower chock 7b is securely supported by the vertical support The cells provide a strong, shock resistant structure which will not accidentally detach or loosen. However, to further strengthen the structure, cross braces 44-, 45 and 46 may be employed. Such cross bracing, as far as the invention is concerned, may assume any number of forms. As shown (FIG. 2), lower brace 44 is pivotally connected on a pair of hinged flanges 48 formed on base checks 6 on each base chock 6, the connection being secured by a hinge pin 49 which is similar in all respects to pins 23a. Brace 44, at its upper end is secured in a manner identical to its lower end. Braces 45 are horizontally extending braces which have their ends secured in obvious manners to upper ends of each detachable chock '7. Brace 46 extends from anupper end of an upper chock 7a to flanges 48 of a base chock 6, the pivotal connection of this brace being the same as already described. As may be noted, the braces are easily assembled or removed by aligning appropriate hinge pin openings and inserting pins 49 which may be keyed in a secured position.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the particular shape of pins 37 which, it will be recalled, are the pins which couple one chock to its laterally adjacent chock. Thus, as shown, the end portions of each pin 37 or, in other Words, the portions which fit into sockets 38 or 46 each are formed with convex surfaces 56 so as to be bulbular in shape and essentially to have a line contact with bearings 39 of the sockets. The purpose of this shaping of the pins is to facilitate insertion of the pins in their sockets and to permit same.

An assembled structure of the type illustrated and described has demonstrated its ability to resist the normal shocks experienced aboard ship and to safely and securely carry such hazardou objects as missiles. Also it can be built up only to the degree needed so that the number of cells constructed from the building blocks can conform to the number of missiles to be stored. The number of cells formed has no appreciable effect on the strength of the structure. In addition to size and strength, the apparatus features a certain flexibility of movement to accommodate the normal movements of the ship without imposing the members to excess strain such as might occur if the structure were absolutely rigid. As may be noted, each support pivots about its pin 36 to provide the flexibility.

'Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore tobe understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for stowing elongate objects comprising,

a plurality of base chock adapted to be secured to a basesupport surface and formed at their upper ends with hinge pin-receiving means,

a plurality of detachable chocks each formed with a base portion having hinge pin receiving means at each end and each further being formed with an arm portion of a fixed length extending laterallyoutwardly from one side thereof, hinge pins received in said pin-receiving means of both said base and detachable chocks, hingedly connecting said chocks, I

a plurality of chock coupling pin means,

said arm portions each being provided at its outer end with a socket for mounting one of said chock coupling pin means, and said arm portions each being provided on its opposite end with a pin-receiving socket substantially aligned with the socket of its outer end,

some of said detachable chocks hingedly supported on a horizontal pivotal axis on said base checks and other of said detachable choc-ks stacked on sai hingedly supported chocks also on horizontal pivotal axes to form parallel rows of laterally-spaced stacks, the arms of each detachable chock spanning the space between the stacks and being supportablycoupled to laterally-adjacent checks by said coupling pins engaging the pin-receiving sockets of adjacent chocks.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a plurality of stanchions adapted to be secured to said base support surface and each provided with a plurality of vertically-spaced sockets adapted to receive said chock coupling pin means of an adjacent stack of chocks whereby said stanchions support said adjacent stack.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including adapter means carried by said arm portions for securely holding said elongate objects.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including crossbrace members adapted to be pivotally supported by said checks and sized for extending between laterally adjacent stacks, said chocks further being formed for pivotally mounting said braces.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein chock coupling pin means are formed with convex sides and said pinreceiving sockets are flat-surfaced whereby said chock c upling pins are capable of rocking in said sockets.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hinge pin receiving means atone end of each detachable chock is formed of spaced flanges,

the hinge pin-receiving means at the other end of each detachable chock is formed of a flange adapted to fit in the flange spacing of the hinge means of an adjacent chock,

said flanges of both hinge pin-receiving means being provided with alignable openings, and

said hinge pins being manually insertible in and removable from said aligned openings, whereby one chock can be moved laterally of another 6 to simultaneously align said flange openings and insert its coupling pin,

said hinge pin then being insertible in said aligned Y openings.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each hinge pin is formed with an enlarged handle portion for insertion and removal purposes.

8. Apparatus for storing elongate objects comprising,

a plurality of checks stacked one on the other in laterally and equidistantly spaced rows,

each of said stacks including at least a base member chock and a superimposed detachable chock,

hinge means coupling together vertically adjacent ends of the checks in each stack whereby each detachable chock is pivotally-hinged and vertically-supported on a horizontal axis,

each of said detachable chocks being provided on its laterally outboard side with a pin-receiving socket means, and each detachable chock further being formed on its inboard side with a laterally-extending arm portion substantially equal in length to said stack spacing,

a pin means carried at the outer end of each of said arms, the axes of said pin and socket m ans being in substantial alignment,

said pin means of each detachable chock being received in saidsocket means of its laterally-adjacent chock whereby said tacks are horizontally supported in a vertical disposition, and

a vertical support means also provided with spaced socket means disposed for receiving the pin means of the inboard stacks of chocks whereby said inboard stacks are upported,

said arm portions between said rows adapted to longitudinally support said elongate objects.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said vertical support means is formed of a plurality of stanchions spaced in conformity with the spacing between the stacks of each row,

each of said stanchions being provided with a plurality of vertically-spaced sockets adapted to receive said pin means of an adjacent stack of checks.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including adapter means carried by said arm portions for securely holding said elongate objects.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pin means are formed with convex sides and said pin-receiving sockets are flat-surfaced whereby said pins are capable of rocking in said sockets.

No references cited.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner, 

1. APPARATUS FOR STOWING OBJECTS COMPRISING, A PLURALITY OF BASE CHOCKS ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A BASE SUPPORT SURFACE AND FORMED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS WITH HINGE PIN-RECEIVING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF DETACHABLE CHOCKS EACH FORMED WITH A BASE PORTION HAVING HINGE PIN RECEIVING MEANS AT EACH END AND EACH FURTHER BEING FORMED WITH AN ARM PORTION OF A FIXED LENGTH EXTENDING LATERALLYOUTWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF, HINGE PINS RECEIVED IN SAID PIN-RECEIVING MEANS OF BOTH SAID BASE AND DETACHABLE CHOCKS, HINGEDLY CONNECTING SAID CHOCKS, A PLURALITY OF CHOCK COUPLING PIN MEANS, SAID ARM PORTIONS EACH BEING PROVIDED AT ITS OUTER END WITH A SOCKET FOR MOUNTING ONE OF SAID CHOCK COUPLING PIN MEANS, AND SAID ARM PORTIONS EACH BEING PROVIDED ON ITS OPPOSITE END WITH A PIN-RECEIVING SOCKET SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED WITH THE SOCKET OF ITS OUTER END, SOME OF SAID DETACHABLE CHOCKS HINGEDLY SUPPORTED ON A HORIZONTAL PIVOTAL AXIS ON SAID BASE CHOCKS AND OTHER OF SAID DETACHABLE CHOCKS STACKED ON SAID HINGEDLY SUPPORTED CHOCKS ALSO ON HORIZONTAL PIVOTAL AXES TO FORM PARALLEL ROWS OF LATERALLY-SPACED STACKS, THE ARMS OF EACH DETACHABLE CHOCK SPANNING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE STACKS AND BEING SUPPORTABLYCOUPLED TO LATERALLY-ADJACENT CHOCKS BY SAID COUPLING PINS ENGAGING THE PIN-RECEIVING SOCKETS OF ADJACENT CHOCKS. 